Williams



(No Model.) v

- 0. W. MAGWILLIAMS. SUGAR CANE HEADER.

No. 601,153. Patented Mar. 22, 1898.

I if

WITNESSES:

ATTOR/I/ Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

CHARLES WALTER MAOWILLIAMS, OF PRESTON, CANADA.

SUGAR-CANE HEADER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,153, dated March 22, 1898. Application filed August 3, 1896- Serial No. 601,498. (No model.)

Header, of which the following'is a full, clear,

and exact description. Y

My invention relates to machines especially adapted for cutting the tops or heads, and consequently the seed, from sugar-cane, Milo maize, and the like crops, in the harvesting of which it is desirable to out off only the heads, leaving the stalks standing.

' The object of the invention is to provide a machine for the above-named purpose which may be expeditiously and conveniently applied to a Wagon body and in which the knives may be raised or lowered to accommodate them to the height of the stalks, the adjustment being accomplished .in an exceedingly expeditious and convenient manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for conducting the severed tops from the knives back' intothe Wagon-body of the support in which the parts of the machine are mounted; and another object of the invention is to construct a tongue applicable to the wagon, which tongue will be so formed that the stalks will pass between its members, thereby preserving the stalks in an upright position and preventing them from being trampled upon by the draft-animals.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims. Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in, all the figures.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through a wagon and the header attachment applied to the same. Fig.2 is a plan view of the wagon and the attachment, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the improved tongue to be used,

in connection with the wagon when the wagon is provided with the header attachment.

n carryingout the invention a box-body or support A is constructed .for the machine or attachment, and the said box-body is open at one end and is likewise open at the top, and

cramp the latter, since the shaft 10 is to be revolved.

At the rear end of the table B a transverse opening 11 is made, exposing the shaft 10, and in this openinga roller 12 is located,which is fast to the aforesaid shaft, the shaft 10 be ing a drive-shaft. Near the opposite or for Ward end of the table B a second transverse opening 13 .is produced, in which a second roller 14 is journaled, and at the forward end of the table knives 15 of the sickle pattern are held to. reciprocate between the usual guards 16, the latter being preferably formed upon or rigidly attached to the table. A conveyer-belt 17 is made to pass over the rollers 12 and 14, and consequently beneath and above the table B, and this conveyer-belt is for the purpose of conveying the material cut by the knives to the rear portion of the table, delivering it into the box-body A.

A handle 18 is preferably rearwardly projected from each side of the inner end portion of the table, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

each handle having an attached spring-latch 19, carrying one or more pins 20, and these pins are arranged to enter any one of a num- I ber of apertures which are produced in stand ards 21, secured to the box-body, so that the outer or forward end of the table may be raised or lowered to bring the knives to a proper elevation to cut the heads of cane of and carries at its curved end weights 23in sufli-cient quantities to counterbalance the ta ble B and the attachments to the same.

A beveled gear 24 is secured on the driveshaft 10 at one side of the table, and this beveled gear meshes with a pinion 25 of like character secured on a line-shaft 26, journaled at one side of the table, which shaft is provided at its outer end with a crank-disk 27, connected by a pitman 28 with the sickles or knives 15, imparting thereto the necessary reciprocating movement.

At the extreme outer end of the drive-shaft 10, or that endwhieh extends beyond the boxbody, a gear 29 is splined or otherwise connected with the shaft, and the said gear while turning with the shaft may be slid thereon through the medium of a shifting-lever 30. The shifting-gear 29 is usually made to mesh with a second gear 31, journaled upon a spudaxle 32, outwardly projected from the boxbody A, and this spud-axle is provided also with a sprocket-wheel 33, connected by a belt 234C with a like wheel 35, attached to the hub of a rear supporting-wheel of the vehicle upon which the box-body of the attachment is placed, it being understood that suitable slots will be made in the sides of the wagon-body to receive the shafts 10 and 32.

It is necessary that the ordinary tongue of the vehicle employed should be replaced by a tongue which will not permit the draft-animals to trample upon the cane. To that end the improved tongue D that is employed (shown in Fig. 3) consists of two members 36, placed substantially parallel and having their forward ends 37 curved outwardly in opposite directions, the two members 36 being joined together at the rear and attached to a single member 38, which is to be attached to the forward axle 40 of the vehicle in like manner as the ordinary tongue or pole. A whiffletree 39 is pivoted at the rear of the bifurcated portion of the tongue in such manner that a singletree will be outside of each forward member 36, the draft-animalsv being therefore harnessed outside of the aforesaid forward members, so that as the machine advances the animals will travel in the paths between the rows of cane, and the cane will pass between the members of the tongue, insuring the cane being in an upright position when brought in contact with the knives. As the wagon advances the cane will pass beneath the same, remaining, however, in the ground.

The table 13 extends sufliciently beyond the forward end of the wagon-body to bring the knives over the bifurcated portion of the tongue.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a machine for heading sugar-cane and like plants, a wheel-supported frame open at the front end, a table fulcrumed at its rear end within the said frame and projecting be yond the forward end of the same, knives carried by the said table at its front end, handles extending rearwardly from the rear end of the said table whereby the said table can be raised or lowered, means for holding the table in the adjusted position, and a drivin g mechanism arranged to impart movement to the knife, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. I11 a machine for heading sugar-cane or like plants, a box-body wheel-supported and open at its front end, a table fulcrumed at its rear end within the said body and projecting forwardly beyond the front end thereof, a counterbalance connected with the inner end of the said table and handles connected with the said table at the rear thereof, whereby the said table may be raised or lowered, means for holding the table in the adj usted position, a reciprocating knife located at the front or projecting end of the table, a conveyer held to travel over the table and receive material from the knife, and a driving mechanism for the knife and for the conveyer operated from one of the supporting-wheels, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a machine for heading sugar-cane and other plants, the combination with a wheelsupported frame, a table pivoted at its rear end within the said frame and projecting from the forward end thereof, an arm projeeted rearwardly from the rear end of the table and carrying a counterbalance-weight at its rear end, and handles extending rearwardly from the said table at each side thereof, the said handles being each provided with a spring-latch carrying pins adapted to engage apertures formed in standards secured to the box-body whereby the outer end of the table may be raised or lowered, of a knife mounted to reciprocate at the forward end of the table, a conveyer arranged to travel over the said table, a drive-shaft to which the rear elevator-roller is secured, the said shaft being operated from one of the supportingwheels, a line-shaft journaled at one side of the table, means for operating the knife from the said line-shaft, and a driving connection between the said drive-shaft and the lineshaft, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a machine for heading cane and like plants, the combination with a supportingframe, of a box-body arranged to be carried by said frame and open at its front end, a table fulcrumed at its rear end in the said box-body and extending forwardly beyond the front end thereof, a counterbalance connected with the rear end of the said table, means whereby the said table may be swung on its fulcrum to raise or lower the front or projecting end thereof, means for holding the table in the adjusted position, and a knife located at the front or projecting end of the table, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a machine for heading cane and other plants, the combination with awheeled frame or support, of a box-body arranged to be carried by said frame and open at its front end, a table fulcrumed at its rear end in the said box-body and extending forwardly beyond the front end thereof, a counterbalance connected with the rear end of the said table,

means whereby the said table may. be swung on its fulcrum to raise or lower the front or projectingend thereof, means for holding the table in the adjusted position, a, knife located at the front or projecting end of the table,

and a, conveyer held to travel over the table and-receive the material from the knife, substantially as shown and described.

CHARLES WALTER MAGWILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

ROBERT C MAOWILLIAMS, RICHARD A.v MOWILLIAMS. 

